Q4: How and why did God create us?
A: God created us male and female in his own image to know him, love him, live with him, and glorify him. And it is right that we who were created by God should live to his glory. (Crossway 2017)
Scripture Reference
Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (ESV)
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The Vertical Truth in Faith – What does this truth mean in my relationship with God?
This truth reveals the deeper reason and purpose for our lives and sets the stage for our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It teaches that we were made for a relationship with God! God made us in his image so we could know Him and be known by Him in a personal, meaningful way. This shows us the true meaning and purpose of life and how we can live our lives to the fullest. As the catechism states, we are to…
- Know Him
John 17:3 ESV “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
- Love Him
Matthew 22:35-38 ESV “And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.“Teacher,which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.”
- Live with Him
John 1:14 ESV “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 14:1-3 ESV “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
- Glorify Him
1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
The Horizontal Truth in Love – What does this truth mean in my relationship with humanity?
Not only are we made for a relationship with God, we are also made in His image to reflect Him to the world around us. We are made to know Him, and to make Him known. Our relationships are the setting for how we can reflect the love and light of Jesus to others.
- I Corinthians 3:18 ESV “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
- Matthew 22:35-40 ESV “And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Practical Truth in Action – How can I put this truth into action?
We put this truth into action by living for our purpose – to know God and to make Him known. What are you doing to know God more? This week be intentional in reading the Bible and learning more about who God is. Take one chapter each day and get to know Him more. If you’re not sure where to begin, start in Psalms. Read one Psalm a day for the next seven days and ask God to reveal more of who He is to you!
We can also put this truth into action in our relationships with others. Think about this question: How can I practically show the love of God to someone this next week? You might choose to bless your neighbor through a practical act of kindness. You could make an effort to say a kind word of encouragement to that co-worker you are not getting along with. Maybe there is a teacher at school going through a hard time and writing a note or encouragement with a Starbucks gift card could really make a difference. Take some time to think practically and specifically about what you can do this next week.
- Philippians 3:7-11 ESV “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”
- Matthew 5:16 ESV “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”